Manual washing machine

ABSTRACT

A manual washing machine provides operability prioritizing torque in a washing step and a rinsing step, and operatively prioritizing high-speed operation in a dewatering step. A manual washing machine according to an embodiment includes a driving power transmission member configured to transmit the rotation of an operating unit to the drum; and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is arranged between a rotational center shaft of the operating unit and a rotation transmission shaft configured to transmit the rotation from the operating transmission member to the drum. The transmission mechanism allows the rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft to be changed with respect to the rotational speed of the operating unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/086947 filed on Dec. 12, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable, compact washing machine, and specifically, to a manual washing machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

A compact washing machine is preferably used to wash small articles such as underwear, baby wear, sportswear, pet wear, or the like, in a kitchen, bathroom, or shower room.

Typically, a manual washing machine includes a washing tank configured as a drum that can be rotated. Examples of typical names of washing machines including electric washing machines include “vertical-type washing machine”, “drum-type washing machine”, “two-tank washing machine”, and the like. A “vertical-type washing machine” includes a rotor on the bottom of a tank. The rotor stirs water so as to generate a water flow, thereby providing washing. A “drum-type washing machine” is a washing machine having a structure in which the rotational axis of the washing tank extends in the horizontal direction or otherwise along a direction tilted sideways. A “two-tank washing machine” has a structure having a combination of a vertical-type wishing machine and a dewatering tank used to remove water. As a comparison with such typical washing machines, in a case in which such a vertical-type washing machine is configured as a manual washing machine, the manual vertical-type washing machine employs a configuration including a drum that is to be rotated.

The following description relates to a manual washing machine. In this regard, for the sake of consistency of the technical terms for the manual washing machine, it is assumed that a container to be rotationally driven after laundry to be washed is inserted will be referred to as a “drum”. A washing machine having a configuration in which the drum is arranged with a rotational axis extending along the horizontal direction or otherwise along a direction tilted sideways will be referred to as a “manual horizontal washing machine”. A washing machine having a configuration in which the drum is arranged with a rotational axis extending in the vertical direction will be referred to as a “manual vertical washing machine”.

Patent document 1 discloses a manual vertical washing machine. As described above, the manual vertical washing machine has a drum with a rotational axis extending in the vertical direction. The manual vertical washing machine allows the user to insert/extract laundry to be washed to/from the upper end opening of the drum. The manual vertical washing machine has an upper lid arranged on the tank housing a rotatable drum. The upper lid includes a handle. By rotationally driving the handle along a circular path defined on a horizontal plane, the rotational motion of the handle is transmitted to the drum via an inner lid. A drain port is provided to the bottom face of the tank. The manual vertical washing machine allows the user to perform washing and dewatering in a state in which laundry to be washed is housed in the drum.

In a case of using such a manual vertical washing machine, the laundry to be washed and washing water are horizontally rotated together. Accordingly, the laundry to be washed cannot move freely in the water. Thus, such a simple operation for rotationally driving the drum cannot provide a function of washing the laundry with sufficient efficiency.

As a product manufactured based on the same idea as the manual vertical washing machine disclosed in Patent document the “Leadworks Laundry POD” (trade name) is known.

Patent document 2 discloses a compact manual horizontal washing machine. As described above, the manual horizontal washing machine includes a drum with a rotational axis extending in the horizontal direction. The tank housing the lower half of the drum has a flat and rectangular bottom face. An anti-skid member is arranged at each of the four corners of the bottom face. The four anti-skid members define a “seat portion” of the washing machine. A drain port is formed in a lower portion of the tank. The manual horizontal washing machine includes an upper lid housing the upper half of the drum. A hand grip and a feed-water inlet are provided to an upper portion of the upper lid. A handle is directly coupled to each of both ends of a rotational driving shaft of the drum. By rotating the two handles along a circular path defined on vertical planes in a state in which the user grips them with the hands, this allows the user to rotationally drive the drum.

With the manual horizontal washing machine, the laundry to be washed is moved upward according to the rotation of the drum, following which the laundry falls downward. That is to say, the manual horizontal washing machine provides “beat washing” for laundry. FIG. 30 is a diagram for describing the “beat washing”. In FIG. 30, reference numeral 300 denotes a drum of the manual washing machine. Reference numeral 302 denotes the rotational axis of the drum 300. The drum rotational axis 302 extends in the horizontal direction. Laundry 304 housed in the drum 300 is moved upward according to the rotation of the drum 300. Subsequently, the laundry 304 falls and sinks in the water 306. A series of these operations provides the “beat washing” for the laundry 304, i.e., provides a collision between the washing water and the laundry and a collision between the laundry containing the washing water.

The washing machines described in Patent documents 1 and 2 and the “Leadworks Laundry POD” manual washing machine are designed to allow the user to operate the handles so as to rotationally drive the drum, thereby providing washing and dewatering regardless of whether they are configured as a vertical washing machine or a horizontal washing machine. In the washing step, the washing machine is set to a state in which a part of the drum is immersed in the water supplied to the tank. In particular, in a case in which the washing machine is configured as a horizontal washing machine, this state requires a relatively large torque (operating force) in order to rotationally drive the drum housing the laundry so as to perform the “beat washing”.

[Patent Document 1]

Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2006-212405

[Patent Document 2]

Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2009-119199

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, in a case of using the manual vertical washing machine having a drum that is horizontally rotated, the laundry is rotated together with the drum. Accordingly, this arrangement does not generate a water flow required for stirring washing. Thus, the manual vertical washing machine provides almost no washing function. On the other hand, the manual horizontal washing machine provides the aforementioned “beat washing”, thereby providing a washing function. That is to say, in a case of employing a manual horizontal washing machine, this provides a washing function in a sure manner. However, in a case of employing such a manual horizontal washing machine, in order to rotate the drum in a state in which the laundry is lifted in the drum, this arrangement requires a large torque (operating force) as compared with the manual vertical washing machine.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to a manual washing machine that can be employed to provide not only the washing step, but also the rinsing step and the dewatering step in a single manual washing machine, that is capable of providing operability with torque prioritized in the washing step and rinsing step, and operability with high-speed dewatering prioritized in the dewatering step.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a manual horizontal washing machine that is capable of providing a washing function with reduced operating force required to rotationally drive a drum.

The aforementioned technical issues can be addressed by one or more embodiments of the present invention that provides a manual washing machine (100). The manual washing machine (100) comprises: a tank (10) including an opening in an upper end thereof; a drum (20) rotatably mounted on the tank (10); an upper lid (12) that covers the opening in the upper end of the tank (10); an operating unit (4) rotatably mounted on the upper lid (12); a driving power transmission member (24) configured to transmit a rotation of the operating unit (4) to the drum (20); and a transmission mechanism (60) arranged between a rotational center shaft (6) of the operating unit (4) and a rotation transmission shaft (28) that transmits the rotation to the drum (20) from the driving power transmission member (24), and configured to be capable of changing a rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft (28) with respect to a rotational speed of the operating unit (4).

Other purposes, operations, and effects of the present invention can be clearly understood based on specific description of an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a manual washing machine (with a drum in a vertical orientation) according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment as viewed obliquely from below, in a state in which a rubber plug is attached to a drain opening to prevent water flow from the drain opening.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the same manual washing machine as that shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from below in a state in which a rubber plug is detached from a drain opening for dewatering.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the manual washing machine according to the embodiment in a state in which an upper lid is detached.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the manual washing machine according to the embodiment in a state in which the upper lid is detached as shown in FIG. 4, and in a state in which an inner lid configured as a driving force transmission member is detached from the upper lid.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the manual washing machine in an upright state (in a state in which the drum is set in a horizontal orientation) with a cap for the drain port set to a water-stop position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the manual washing machine in an upright state (in a state in which the drum is set in a horizontal orientation) with a cap for the drain port set to a water-draining position.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a gear transmission mechanism included in the manual washing machine according to the embodiment in a high-speed operation mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing the gear transmission mechanism included in the manual washing machine according to the embodiment in a low-speed operation mode (torque-prioritizing mode).

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing the gear transmission mechanism included in the manual washing machine according to the embodiment, and for describing a transition period between the high-speed operation mode and the low-speed operation mode in which a state is maintained in which both the ring gear and the first gear are detached from the driven gear.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a configuration for switching the mode of the gear mechanism by shifting an operating disk mounted on the upper lid of the manual washing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing the operation of a push button incorporated in the rotational center shaft of the operating disk, showing a state in which the position of the operation disk is set to the first position or otherwise the second position.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing the operation of a push button incorporated in the rotational center shaft of the operating disk, showing a state in which the operating disk is shifted between the first position and the second position.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a state when the push button incorporated in the rotational center shaft of the operating disk is positioned at a circular portion of any one from among both ends of a guide slot.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a state in which the push button is pressed down when the push button incorporated in the rotational center shaft of the operating disk is positioned at a circular portion of any one from among both ends of the guide slot.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing a state in which the rotational center shaft of the operating disk is shifted in position and shifted along the junction portion of the guide slot, which is a subsequent step of that shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing a theoretical reason why an operation in which the drum is vertically rotated with an axis extending in the horizontal direction as an axis of rotation requires a driving force of five times that required for an operation in which the drum is horizontally rotated with an axis extending in the vertical direction as an axis of rotation.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a gear transmission mechanism configured to set the position of the operating disk to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) or otherwise the second position (prioritizing torque) by raising and lowering the operating disk.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state of the gear transmission mechanism when the operating disk is set to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation).

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a state of the gear transmission mechanism when the operating disk is set to the second position (prioritizing torque).

FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing the relation between the rotational center shaft (circular cross-sectional portion) of the operating disk and the guide slot when the position of the operating disk is set to the first position or otherwise the second position.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing the relation between the rotational center shaft (approximately rectangular cross-section portion) of the operating disk and the guide slot when the operating disk is shifted from the first position to the second position or otherwise from the second position to the first position.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing a state of the gear transmission mechanism according to another modification when the position of the operating disk is set to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation).

FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing a state of the gear transmission mechanism according to another modification, when the position of the operating disk is set to the second position (prioritizing torque).

FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing an operation of the gear transmission mechanism according to yet another modification in which the gear transmission mechanism is switched to the second position (prioritizing torque) by rotating the operating disk in the counterclockwise direction.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for describing an operation of the gear transmission mechanism according to yet another modification as shown in FIG. 26, in which the gear transmission mechanism is switched to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) by rotating the operating disk in the clockwise direction.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for describing an operation of a modification of the gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 in which the gear transmission mechanism is switched to the second position (prioritizing torque) by rotating the operating disk in the counterclockwise direction.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing an operation of such a modification of the gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 in which the gear transmission mechanism is switched to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) by rotating the operating disk in the clockwise direction.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for describing the “beat washing” provided by the manual horizontal washing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 manual washing machine according to an embodiment, 2 handle, 4 operating disk (operating unit), 6 rotational center shaft of the operating disk, 10 tank, 10 a bottom face of the tank, 10 b upper end face of the outer edge of the tank, 12 upper lid, 14 single buckle (fixing member), 16 drain opening for dewatering (first drain opening), 18 rubber plug, 20 drum, Od rotational axis of the drum, 24 inner lid (driving power transmission member), 28 rotation transmission shaft, 34 water stop ring (water stop member), 36 first rubber piece (first seat portion), 40 standing face, 42 second rubber piece (second seat portion), 50 feed-water inlet, 52 drain port, 54 cap, 60 gear transmission mechanism, 64 first gear, 66 ring gear, 68 driven gear, 72 guide slot, 72 a first circular portion (first position) of the guide slot, 72 b second circular portion (second position) of the guide slot, 72 c junction portion (guide portion) of the guide slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will be made below regarding a preferable embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a washing machine according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, the washing machine according to the embodiment is denoted by reference numeral 100. The washing machine 100 is configured as a manual washing machine. By rotating an operating disk 4 with a rotational center shaft 6 as an axis of rotation in a state in which the user grips a handle 2, this allows a drum described later to be rotated.

The overall configuration of the manual washing machine 100 is formed of a synthetic resin. The washing machine 100 includes a tank 10 and an upper lid 12 that can be detachably mounted on the tank 10. The upper lid 12 can be fixedly mounted on the tank 10 by multiple single buckles 14. Each single buckle 14 is an example of typical members that allow the upper lid 12 to be fixedly mounted on the tank 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the washing machine 100 as viewed obliquely from below. A drain opening 16 is formed in a bottom face 10 a of the tank 10, which is to be used for dewatering. A rubber plug 18 is detachably mounted on the drain opening 16 for dewatering. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the same arrangement as shown in FIG. 2. However, FIG. 3 shows this arrangement in a state in which the rubber plug 18 is detached from the drain opening 16 for dewatering. Description will be made later regarding a preferable layout of the drain opening 16 for dewatering.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the upper lid 12 is detached from the tank 10. The tank 10 has an opening facing upward. A drum 20 is mounted in the tank 10. The drum 20 also has an opening facing upward in the same manner as the tank 10. The drum 20 is configured to have a circular cross-sectional shape. The drum 20 is supported by the bottom face 10 a of the tank 10, so as to allow the drum 20 to be rotated with an axis Od extending in the vertical direction as an axis of rotation. Preferably, the drum 20 may be detachably mounted.

A circumferential wall 20 a of the drum 20 and a bottom wall thereof, which is not shown in FIG. 4, each have a vertical bar structure having openings for removing water each extending along the vertical direction. The vertical bar structure of the circumferential wall 20 a extending in the vertical direction is denoted by reference numeral 22.

As can be clearly understood with reference to the drum 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drum 20 has a protrusion portion 20 b formed in its inner face such that it protrudes inward. Also, multiple protrusion portions 20 b may be provided along the circumferential direction. Such a protrusion portion 20 b provides improved washing efficiency.

An inner lid 24, which is to cover the upper-end opening of the drum 20, is detachably mounted on the upper lid 12 such that it cannot be rotated. The inner lid 24 is a driving force transmission member that allows the user's operation for rotating the handle 2 to be transmitted to the drum 20. Plate-shaped protrusions 26 are formed in an outer edge portion of the inner lid 24 such that each protrusion extends downward. The multiple protrusions 26 are arranged on the inner lid 24 along the circumferential direction thereof. Preferably, the protrusions 26 are arranged at regular intervals. Each protrusion 26 is inserted into a gap between two adjacent bars of the vertical bar structure 22 such that it is engaged with the vertical bar structure 22. By providing such an engagement between the protrusions 26 and the drum 20 via the vertical bar structure 22, this arrangement allows the inner lid 24 and the drum 20 to be rotated together with the axis Od of the drum 20 as an axis of rotation.

FIG. 5 shows the same arrangement shown in FIG. 4 in a state in which the inner lid 24 is detached from the upper lid 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper lid 12 has a rotation transmission shaft 28 extending downward from the upper lid 12. The rotation transmission shaft 28 is rotatably mounted on the lid 12. A non-circular portion 28 a is formed in a lower end portion of the rotation transmission shaft 28. Furthermore, a screw portion 28 b is formed in a lower portion of the non-circular portion 28 a. It should be noted that FIG. 5 shows a state before the single buckles 14 are attached to the tank 10.

The inner lid 24 is configured to have a circular outline, and to have a non-circular through hole 24 a (FIG. 5). The non-circular through hole 24 a has a complementary shape with respect to the non-circular portion 28 a of the rotation transmission shaft 28. The non-circular through hole 24 a is supported by the non-circular portion 28 a. A retaining nut 30 is screwed to the screw portion 28 b of the rotation transmission shaft 28. By tightly screwing on the retaining nut 30, the inner lid 24 is fixedly mounted on the rotation transmission shaft 28 such that it cannot be relatively rotated.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper lid 12 has a circumferential groove 32 in the outer edge portion of the inner face thereof. The circumferential groove 32 is continuously formed along the circumferential direction in the upper lid 12. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional diagram taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 1. A water stop ring 34 is housed in the circumferential groove 32. Upon fixedly mounting the upper lid 12 on the tank 10, the water stop ring 34 is pressed into contact with an upper end face 10 b of the outer edge of the tank 10. This arrangement allows the water stop ring 34 to prevent water stored in the tank 10 from leaking from a gap between the tank 10 and the upper lid 12. As a modification, the water stop ring 34 may be arranged on the upper end face 10 b (FIG. 6) of the outer edge of the tank 10.

The manual washing machine 100 according to the embodiment allows the operation to be performed in a first operation mode (FIG. 1) in which the drum 20 is operated in a vertical orientation (FIG. 5), and in a second operation mode in which the drum 20 is operated in a horizontal orientation (FIGS. 7 and 8). Typically, the first operation mode is employed in the dewatering step. On the other hand, the second operation mode is employed in the washing step and the rinsing step.

As described in FIGS. 2 and 3, three first buffer members, i.e., rubber pieces 36, are attached to the bottom face 10 a of the tank 10 at intervals along its outer edge. The three first rubber pieces 36 are arranged such that they are positioned on a single horizontal plane. The three first rubber pieces 36 define a seat portion to be used in the first operation mode. As a modification, the bottom face 10 a of the tank 10 defines the seat portion to be used in the first operation mode without involving such first rubber pieces 36.

When the three first rubber pieces 36 are set such that they are positioned on the horizontal plane, the drum 20 is set to a vertical orientation state, i.e., the first operation mode in which the rotational axis Od extends in the vertical direction (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 1, a standing face 40 is formed as a side face of the washing machine 100 such that it intersects with the bottom face 10 a of the tank 10. The standing face 40 is preferably configured to have an orthogonal relation between itself and the bottom face 10 a of the tank 10. Also, it is needless to say that the standing face 40 may be configured to have a slope of 70 degrees, for example. The standing face 40 is configured to have an approximately rectangular surface. Furthermore, a second buffer member, i.e., a rubber piece 42 is attached to each of the four corners of the standing face 40. The four second rubber pieces 42 are positioned on a single vertical plane. The four second rubber pierces 42 define a seat portion to be used in the second operation mode. As a modification, the standing face 40 itself may define such a seat portion to be used in the second operation mode.

By setting the four second rubber pieces 42 such that they define the seat portion on the horizontal plane, this arrangement is set to a state in which the drum 20 is to be operated in a horizontal orientation, i.e., the second operation mode in which the rotational axis Od extends along the horizontal direction. The second operation mode is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the second operation mode, the washing machine 100 preferably has a feed-water inlet 50 in its upper portion. Furthermore, the washing machine 100 preferably has a drain port 52 in its lower portion. A cap 54 is provided to the drain port 52. By rotating the cap 54 manually, this arrangement allows the user to switch the drain port 52 between a water stop state (FIG. 7) in which the drain port 52 is closed and an open state (FIG. 8) in which the drain port 52 is opened. It is needless to say that the cap 54 may be detachably mounted on the drain port 52.

Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in addition to FIGS. 7 and 8, the feed-water inlet 50 is provided in a circumferential wall of the tank 10 such that it is positioned away from the standing face 40, i.e., such that it is approximately opposite to the standing face 40. The feed-water inlet 50 may be provided to the upper lid 12. Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 regarding a preferable layout of the aforementioned drain opening 16 for dewatering. The drain opening 16 is preferably provided to the bottom face 10 a of the tank such that it is positioned away from the standing face 40, and such that it is positioned on a side opposite to the standing face 40 (FIG. 3). With the washing machine 100 in the second operation mode, this allows the drain opening 16, which is to be used for dewatering, to be set to a high position. Thus, this arrangement requires no cap to be provided to the drain opening 16 for dewatering. The drain port 52 may preferably be provided to the upper lid 12 such that it is adjacent to the standing face 40. However, the present invention is not restricted to such an arrangement. Also, the drain port 52 may be provided to the bottom face 10 a or otherwise the circumferential face of the tank 10 such that it is adjacent to the standing face 40.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a guide recess 58 having an elliptic shape in the upper lid 12. The operating disk 4 is housed in the guide recess 58. This arrangement allows the operating disk 4 to be guided by the guide recess 58 such that it can be shifted in position along the longitudinal direction of the guide recess 58.

The rotational operation of the operating disk 4 is transmitted to the drum 20 via a gear transmission mechanism. That is to say, when the operating disk 4 is rotated, the operating force is transmitted to the drum 20 via the gear transmission mechanism. As a result, the drum 20 is rotationally driven. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a gear transmission mechanism 60 arranged on the upper lid 12.

The gear transmission mechanism 60 includes a first gear 64 mounted on the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4, and a ring gear 66 formed on the inner side of the operating disk 4. The ring gear 66 and the first gear 64 are arranged such that they are concentrically positioned. The gear transmission mechanism 60 further includes a driven gear 68 mounted on the rotation transmission shaft 28 (FIG. 5).

The gear ratio between the first gear 64 and the driven gear 68 is 1:1. Furthermore, the gear ratio between the driven gear 68 and the ring gear 66 is 1:5. The gear ratios may be designed as desired. However, such gear ratios thus designed allow the user to rotationally drive the drum 20 at a high speed in a high-speed mode described later even if the user is a person with comparatively little hand strength. In addition, in a low-speed mode described later, by operating the handle 2 with light force, this arrangement allows the drum 20 to be rotationally driven. Accordingly, in the first state shown in FIG. 9 in which the ring gear 66 is meshed with the driven gear 68, power transmission is performed with relative prioritizing of high-speed operation (high-speed mode). On the other hand, in the second state shown in FIG. 10 in which the first gear 64 is meshed with the driven gear 68, power transmission is performed with relative prioritizing of torque (low-speed mode).

By shifting the operating disk 4 along the guide recess 58 having an elliptic shape formed in the upper lid 12, this arrangement allows the gear transmission mechanism 60 to switch the rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft 28 with respect to the rotational speed of the operating disk 4. That is to say, the gear transmission mechanism 60 is capable of switching positions between the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) and the second position (prioritizing torque). The position of the operating disk 4 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the aforementioned first position (prioritizing high-speed operation). The position of the operating disk 4 shown in FIG. 8 is set to the aforementioned second position (prioritizing torque).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a shift control mechanism for guiding the shifting of the operating disk 4 so as to shift the position of the operating disk 4 between the first position and the second position, and for preventing an undesired shift in position of the operating disk 4. In FIG. 12, in order to avoid confusion with respect to the drawing, the first gear 64 is not shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top face of the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is configured as a push button 70. The push button 70 is incorporated in the rotational center shaft 6. The push button 70 provides a function of disabling or otherwise enabling a gear switching operation of the gear transmission mechanism 60.

The push button 70 receives a force directed upward by a spring (not shown). Returning to FIG. 12, the rotational center shaft 6 is guided by a guide slot 72 formed in the upper lid 12. The guide slot 72 has a long and narrow shape. Furthermore, a first circular portion 72 a is formed as one terminal of the guide slot 72. A second circular portion 72 b is formed as the other terminal thereof. The first and second circular portions 72 a and 72 b are each configured to have the same diameter. Furthermore, the first and second circular portions 72 a and 72 b are coupled with each other via a junction portion (guide portion) 72 c. The junction portion 72 c is configured to have a pair of linear side walls arranged in parallel with each other. The width of the junction portion (guide portion) 72 c is smaller than the diameters of the first and second circular portions 72 a and 72 b.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams each showing only the push button 70. The push button 70 has a cap portion 70 a, a pair of plate-shaped legs 70 b respectively extending downward from respective edges of the cap portion 70 a, and protrusions 70 c each protruding outward from the lower end of the corresponding leg 70 b. The pair of plate-shaped legs 70 b are arranged in parallel with each other. Furthermore, the protrusions 70 c of the legs 70 b each have an arc-shaped outer-circumferential face having an outline that is complementary with the outline of the corresponding one of the aforementioned first and second circular portions 72 a and 72 b.

When the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is positioned at the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise at the second circular portion 72 b, the aforementioned arc-shaped protrusion 70 c of the push button positioned at the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise at the second circular portion 72 b. Accordingly, the position of the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is determined by the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise the second circular portion 72 b (FIG. 15). This allows the position of the operating disk 4 to be determined and set to the aforementioned first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, as shown in FIG. 1) or otherwise the aforementioned second position (prioritizing torque, as shown in FIG. 8). In a case of the first position, this arrangement allows the drum 20 to be rotationally driven at high speed. In a case of the second position, this arrangement provides an increased torque for rotationally driving the drum 20. However, the rotational speed of the drum 20 is relatively low.

When the operating disk 4 is to be shifted, the user presses down the push button 70. FIGS. 14 and 16 are diagrams for describing a state in which the push button 70 is pressed down. Upon pressing down the push button 70, the protrusion 70 c of each leg 70 b is shifted downward from the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise the second circular portion 72 b, thereby releasing it from an engagement between itself and the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise the second circular portion 72 b. In this state, the rotational center shaft 6 can be shifted to the junction portion (guide portion) 72 c (FIG. 17). This allows the operating disk 4 to be shifted to the aforementioned first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, as shown in FIG. 1) or otherwise the aforementioned second position (prioritizing torque, as shown in FIG. 8) while preventing undesired shifting of the operating disk 4 to the first or second position.

This shifting is preferably performed in a state in which the rotation of the drum 20 is stopped. Furthermore, the shifting is preferably performed such that the two gears are smoothly meshed with each other. That is, it is preferable to prevent the teeth of the two meshing gears from colliding with each other in the shifting operation before they are meshed with each other. According to the embodiment, at the time of the shifting, each leg 70 b of the push button 70 is restricted by the junction portion (guide portion) 72 c. Accordingly, the rotational center shaft 6 cannot be shifted in position before the rotation of the operating disk 4 is stopped and the operating disk 4 is set to the switching position (the leg 70 b is turned to a predetermined angle). If this switching can be made without stopping the rotation of the operating disk 4, when any one from among the ring gear 66 and the first gear 64, which are each configured as a gear of the operating disk 4, is released from the driven gear 68, in some cases, the driven gear 68 rotates freely due to the inertial force from the drum 20 or the laundry. This arrangement has the potential to damage the gears when they are meshed again. Thus, the shifting mechanism is preferably configured to disable such a sifting operation before the rotation is stopped. Furthermore, each gear train is configured such that, at the time of the shifting the operating disk 4 after the rotation of the operating disk 4 is stopped, the ring gear 66 and the first gear 64 are maintained in a state in which they are both released from the driven gear 68, following which the corresponding gear is smoothly meshed with the driven gear (FIG. 11). This arrangement is capable of preventing a collision between the teeth of the corresponding gears in the shifting operation, thereby providing a smooth shifting operation.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. 18 regarding a reason why the vertical rotational operation requires a force of up to five times that required for the horizontal rotational operation, in a comparison between the vertical rotational operation in which the drum 20 is rotationally driven with an axis extending in the horizontal direction as an axis of rotation and the horizontal rotational operation in which the drum 20 is rotationally driven with an axis extending in the vertical direction as an axis of rotation.

In FIG. 18, the drum 20 is vertically rotated with an axis extending in the horizontal direction as an axis of rotation. In FIG. 18, the drum 20 is in a horizontal orientation state. The laundry is denoted by “R”. With the mass of the laundry R as “m”, and with the rotational speed of the drum 20 as “v”, the force of gravity applied to the laundry R is represented by mg, and the centrifugal force is represented by m{V²/r}. When there is a balanced relation between the centrifugal force applied to the laundry R and the force of gravity (g), the following relation expression holds true.

mg=m{V ² /r}

By transforming the aforementioned Expression, gr=V² is derived.

When the drum 20 is vertically rotated, the energy E(v) is represented by the following Expression with the radius of the drum 20 as “r”.

$\begin{matrix} {{E(v)} = {{\left( {1/2} \right)\left\{ {mV}^{2} \right\}} + {2{mgr}}}} \\ {= {{\left( {1/2} \right)\left\{ {mV}^{2} \right\}} + {2\mspace{14mu} {mV}^{2}}}} \\ {= {\left( {5/2} \right)\left\{ {mV}^{2} \right\}}} \end{matrix}$

In contrast, in a case in which the drum 20 is horizontally rotated with an axis extending along the vertical direction as an axis of rotation, the energy E(h) can be represented by the following Expression assuming that the drum 20 is rotated at the same rotational speed as that in the aforementioned example in which the drum 20 is vertically rotated.

E(h)=(½){mV ²}

In a case of horizontally rotating the drum 20, this operation does not involve gravitational potential energy. In a comparison between the horizontal rotational operation and the vertical rotational operation, the following relation holds true.

E(v):E(h)=5:1

As described above, it can be understood that the vertical rotational operation (in the horizontal orientation) requires a force of up to five times that required for the horizontal rotational operation (in the vertical orientation).

Next, description will be made below regarding a typical usage of the aforementioned manual washing machine 100. First, the upper lid 12 is detached, following which laundry to be washed such as underwear is loaded into the drum 20. Next, the tank 10 is closed by the upper lid 12. Furthermore, the upper lid 12 is fixed by the buckle 14, thereby allowing the tank 10 to be set to a liquid-tight state.

Next, the washing machine 100 is set to an upright state shown in FIG. 7. After confirming a state in which the drain port 52 has been closed by the cap 54, the internal space of the washing machine 100 is filled with water via the feed-water inlet 50 by a water tap or a shower head. After an appropriate amount of water is fed into the internal space of the washing machine 100, a detergent is inserted via the feed-water inlet 50. After this preparation step, the operating disk 4 is set to the second position (prioritizing torque, as shown in FIG. 8), following which the washing step is executed. The washing step is executed in a state in which the drum 20 is set to a horizontal orientation. Accordingly, by rotationally driving the drum 20 in a single direction or otherwise in two directions according to the rotational operation via the handle 2, the laundry is washed in the drum 20 while it is moved in the drum 20.

After the end of washing step, the cap 54 is rotated so as to open the drain port 52. This allows the dirty water stored in the washing machine 100 to be drained to the exterior via the drain port 52. After draining the water, the drum 20 is rotationally driven by rotationally operating the handle 2 while supplying water to the internal space of the washing machine 100 via the feed-water inlet 50 by a water tap or a shower head. In some cases, the drum 20 is rotationally driven in a state in which the drain port 52 is closed by the cap 54 so as to store the water in the internal space of the washing machine 100. As described above, this arrangement allows a rinsing step to be executed. In the rinsing step, the drum 20 is operated in the horizontal orientation state. Accordingly, the rinsing step can be executed while the laundry is moved in the drum 20.

After the end of the rinsing step, the washing machine 100 is set to a horizontal orientation state shown in FIG. 1. In this state, the drum 20 is set to a vertical orientation state. Subsequently, the position of the operating disk 4 is set and determined to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation). Furthermore, the rubber plug 18 (FIG. 2) is detached from the drain opening 16 for dewatering (FIG. 3). After the end of the preparation for dewatering, the handle 2 is rotationally operated so as to rotationally drive the drum 20 at a high speed, thereby executing a dewatering step.

With the manual washing machine 100 according the embodiment, the washing step and the rinsing step can be executed with the drum in a horizontal orientation. This allows the laundry to be washed and rinsed in the drum while it is moved in the drum according to the rotation of the drum. On the other hand, the dewatering step can be executed with the drum in a vertical orientation. In a case of operating the drum in a vertical orientation, the laundry is not moved in the drum according to the rotation of the drum. This allows water to be removed from the laundry in a stable state.

With the manual washing machine 100 according to the embodiment including a gear transmission mechanism, in the washing step and the rinsing step, the manual washing machine 100 is capable of rotationally driving the drum 20 with a transmission gear ratio that provides prioritizing of torque. Furthermore, in the dewatering step, the manual washing machine 100 is capable of rotationally driving the drum 20 with a transmission gear ratio that provides prioritizing of high-speed operation.

FIGS. 19 through 23 each show a modification of the gear transmission mechanism. With the gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 19 through 23, by shifting the operating disk 4 upward and downward, this arrangement allows the position of the operating disk 4 to be set and determined to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, as shown in FIG. 20) or otherwise the second position (prioritizing torque, as shown in FIG. 21). That is to say, by pressing down the operating disk 4 when the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is positioned at the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise the second circular portion 72 b of the guide slot 72, this arrangement allows the position of the operating disk 4 to be set and determined to the first circular portion 72 a or otherwise the second circular portion 72 b of the guide slot 72.

The rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 has a circular cross-section portion 206 a and a portion 206 b having an approximately rectangular cross-section as obtained by cutting off both sides thereof, which is positioned below the circular cross-section portion 206 a. The width of the approximately rectangular cross-section portion 206 b is substantially the same as the width of the junction portion 72 c of the guide slot 72. Upon raising the operating disk 4, the approximately rectangular cross-section portion 206 b is inserted into the junction portion 72 c of the guide slot 72. This allows the operating disk 4 to be moved along the junction portion (guide portion) 72 c. Accordingly, by shifting the operating disk 4 along the junction portion 72 c of the guide slot 72 after the operating disk 4 is raised (FIG. 23), this arrangement allows the operating disk 4 to reach the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, as shown in FIG. 20) or otherwise the second position (prioritizing torque, as shown in FIG. 21). Subsequently, by pressing down the operating disk 4 that has reached the first position or otherwise the second position, this arrangement allows the position of the operating disk 4 to be set and determined to the first position or otherwise the second position (FIG. 22).

FIGS. 24 and 25 show another modification of the gear transmission mechanism. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the position of the operating disk 4 is set to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation). FIG. 25 shows a state in which the position of the operating disk 4 is set to the second position (prioritizing torque). The switching between the first position and the second position can be performed by raising and lowering the operating disk 4.

The operating disk 4 has an outer-circumferential cylindrical portion 210. A circular gear 212 is formed in the inner face of the outer-circumferential cylindrical portion 210. The operating disk 4 is arranged such that it can be rotated with the rotational center shaft 6 as an axis of rotation. The rotational center shaft 6 is fixedly mounted such that it cannot be shifted in position. A driving gear 216 is fixedly mounted on the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4.

FIG. 24 shows a state in which the position of the operating disk 4 is set to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) by pressing down the operating disk 4 as described above. In this state, the driving gear 216 mounted on the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is in a free state. On the other hand, the circular gear 212 formed in the inner face of the outer-circumferential cylindrical portion 210 is meshed with the driven gear 68.

FIG. 25 shows a state in which the position of the operating disk 4 is set to the second position (prioritizing torque) by raising the operating disk 4 as described above. In this state, the driving gear 216 mounted on the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4 is meshed with the driven gear 68 via an intermediate gear 218. On the other hand, the circular gear 212 formed in the inner face of the outer-circumferential cylindrical portion 210 is in a free state. It should be noted that, as a modification, the intermediate gear 218 may be omitted. Instead, the driving gear 216 may be directly meshed with the driven gear 68.

The position setting mechanism that allows the position to be switched between the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) and the second position (prioritizing torque) by raising and lowering the operating disk 4 may be configured as a combination of a rubber ring 220 and a protrusion 222. That is to say, the rubber ring 220 is provided to the outer-circumferential face of the outer-circumferential cylindrical portion 210 of the operating disk 4. On the other hand, the protrusion 222 is formed in the upper lid 12. In order to shift the operating disk 4 to the first position or otherwise the second position, by raising and lowering the operating disk 4, the rubber ring 220 goes over the protrusion 222. This arrangement allows the position of the operating disk 4 to be fixedly set to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation) or otherwise the second position (prioritizing torque).

FIGS. 26 and 27 each show yet another modification of the gear transmission mechanism. The gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 includes a planetary gear. Specifically, the gear transmission mechanism includes the driving gear 216 fixedly mounted on the rotational center shaft 6 of the operating disk 4, an outer-circumferential gear 242 formed in the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical portion of the operating disk 4, an idler gear 246 having a relatively large diameter, an idler gear 248 having a relatively small diameter, and the driven gear 68. The driven gear 216, the large-diameter idler gear 246, and the small-diameter idler gear 248 are integrated by a swinging arm 250.

FIG. 26 shows a state in a case of setting the second position (prioritizing torque, which is to be used in the washing step and the rinsing step). FIG. 27 shows a state in a case of setting the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, which is to be used in the dewatering step).

Referring to FIG. 26 showing the state that corresponds to the second position (prioritizing torque, to be used in the washing step and the rinsing step), description will be made. In this state, when the operating disk 4 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the driving gear 216 and the driven gear 68 are meshed via the large-diameter idler gear 246.

Referring to FIG. 27 showing the state that corresponds to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, to be used in the dewatering step), description will be made. In this state, when the operating disk 4 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the outer-circumferential gear 242 of the operating disk 4 and the driven gear 68 are meshed via the small-diameter idler gear 248.

Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29 regarding a modification of the gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 described above. The gear transmission mechanism shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 employs the outer-circumferential gear 242 formed in the outer-circumferential face of the cylindrical portion of the operating disk 4. In contrast, the gear transmission mechanism according to such a modification shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 employs an inner-circumferential gear 252 formed in an inner-circumferential face of the cylindrical portion of the operating disk 4.

FIG. 28 shows a state in a case of setting the second position (prioritizing torque, to be used in the washing step and the rinsing step). FIG. 29 shows a state in a case of setting the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, to be used in the dewatering step).

Referring to FIG. 28 showing a state that corresponds to the second position (prioritizing torque, to be used in the washing step and the rinsing step), description will be made. In this state, when the operating disk 4 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the driving gear 216 and the driven gear 68 are meshed via the large-diameter idler gear 246.

Referring to FIG. 29 showing a state that corresponds to the first position (prioritizing high-speed operation, to be used in the dewatering step), description will be made. In this state, when the operating disk 4 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the inner-circumferential gear 252 of the operating disk 4 and the driven gear 62 are meshed via the small-diameter idler gear 248. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A manual washing machine comprising: a tank including an opening in an upper end thereof; a drum rotatably mounted on the tank; an upper lid that covers the opening in the upper end of the tank; an operating unit rotatably mounted on the upper lid; a driving power transmission member configured to transmit a rotation of the operating unit to the drum; and a transmission mechanism arranged between a rotational center shaft of the operating unit and a rotation transmission shaft that transmits the rotation to the drum from the driving power transmission member, and configured to to be capable of changing a rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft with respect to a rotational speed of the operating unit.
 2. The manual washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises: a ring gear formed in an inner face of the operating unit; a first gear mounted on a rotational center shaft of the operating unit; and a driven gear mounted on the rotation transmission shaft, and wherein, by shifting a position of the operating unit, the transmission mechanism is switchable between a high-speed operation mode in which the ring gear meshed with the driven gear and a low-speed operation mode in which the first gear is meshed with the driven gear.
 3. The manual washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises: a first position that provides the high-speed operation mode; a second position that provides the low-speed operation mode; and a junction portion that couples the first position and the second position, and wherein the junction portion allows the transmission mechanism to be switched between the high-speed operation mode and the low-speed operation mode while preventing an inappropriate shift in position of the operating unit.
 4. The manual washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the ring gear and the first gear are arranged such that, when the operating unit is shifted in position in a state in which the rotation of the operating unit is stopped, a state in which both the ring gear and the first gear are detached from the driven gear is maintained, so as to smoothly mesh the corresponding gears.
 5. The manual washing machine according to claim 1, comprising: a first seat portion configured as a bottom face of the tank or otherwise formed in the bottom face thereof; and a second seat portion defined by an standing face that intersects with the bottom face of the tank, wherein the manual washing machine can be operated in an operating mode that is switchable between a first operating mode in which the first seat portion is set on a horizontal plane such that an axis of rotation of the drum extends in a vertical direction and a second operating mode in which the second seat portion is set on a horizontal plane such that an axis of rotation of the drum extends in a horizontal direction.
 6. The manual washing machine according to claim 5, further comprising: a drain port positioned in the vicinity of the second seat portion in the second operating mode in which the second seat portion is set on the horizontal plane; a feed-water inlet arranged away from the second seat in the second operation mode in which the second seat portion is set on the horizontal plane; and a cap configured to prevent water flow from the drain port.
 7. The manual washing machine according to claim 5, wherein a first drain opening is formed in the bottom face of the tank.
 8. The manual washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the first drain opening is arranged at a position away from the second seat portion.
 9. The manual washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a water-stop member is provided between an inner face of an outer-circumferential portion of the upper lid and an upper end of an outer-circumferential face of the tank. 